Dessert/5 recipes

Card gingerbread cookies shaped into playing-card rectangles and scored with lines, made with molasses, brown sugar, ginger, and cinnamon. A vintage rolled cookie for the holidays.

Chocolate mint cookie sandwiches stack slice-and-bake chocolate rounds around a cool mint buttercream, then dip half in semisweet chocolate glaze.

Chocolate red beet cake: deep cocoa cake with mashed beets baked into a moist, tender crumb you'd never guess was hiding a vegetable. An old-school secret-ingredient cake.

Classic Italian pizzelle cookies flavored with anise and vanilla, pressed thin and crisp in a pizzelle iron. A simple batter that refrigerates well for baking anytime.

Sugar-free orange cookies for diabetic-friendly baking. Fresh orange juice and zest carry the citrus brightness, sugar substitute keeps them sweet, and buttermilk gives them a tender, soft-cake crumb.

A creamy cocoa cheesecake on a buttery graham cracker crust, topped with a smooth vanilla sour cream layer. Baked in a springform pan and garnished with fresh fruit. Serves 10 to 12.

Melomakarona (fenekia) are traditional Greek honey cookies made with orange juice, cognac, farina, and walnuts. Baked, dipped in warm honey syrup, and dusted with cinnamon.

Fudgy chocolate layer cake made with a full cup of cocoa powder, brown sugar, and buttermilk for tender, deep-flavored crumb. Frosted with a melted-chocolate buttercream and topped with chocolate curls. The classic two-layer birthday cake.

Old-fashioned blackberry cobbler topped with a buttery shortening-and-cream pastry crust. Hot berry filling pre-bakes briefly before the pastry top goes on for a crisp, golden finish.

Homemade chocolate cannoli with beer-leavened fried shells filled with sweetened ricotta, chocolate chips, toasted walnuts, and orange and lime zest. An Italian pastry shop classic made from scratch.

Melt-away butter cookies with vanilla and almond extract, pressed with a cookie gun and optionally dipped in chocolate with chopped pecans. Yields 7 dozen.

Three-layer apple torte: buttery shortbread crust, sweetened cream cheese filling, cinnamon-sugar apples, and slivered almonds. German-style baked in a springform.

Please your desire for pastries with this scrumptious snack that has a hint of almond.

Discover how to make Lemony Anise Cookies with this easy recipe. Zesty lemon and aromatic anise combine in crisp, golden cookies perfect for any occasion. Ready in about 1 hour.

Chocolate pizzelle cookies made with cocoa powder, melted butter, and vanilla, pressed on a pizzelle iron. An Italian waffle cookie with a rich chocolate twist.

Four-layer chocolate torte with whipped cream filling, milk chocolate frosting, roasted pistachios, and handmade chocolate hearts on top. A stunning centerpiece from a simple cake mix.